Tim Danielson
American middle-distance runner
title: "Tim Danielson" type: doc version: 1 created: 2026-02-28 author: "Wikipedia contributors" status: active scope: public tags: ["american-men-middle-distance-runners", "1948-births", "byu-cougars-men's-track-and-field-athletes", "living-people", "sportspeople-from-chula-vista,-california", "track-and-field-athletes-from-san-diego-county,-california", "american-sportspeople-convicted-of-murder", "people-convicted-of-murder-by-california", "prisoners-sentenced-to-life-imprisonment-by-california", "20th-century-american-sportsmen"] description: "American middle-distance runner" topic_path: "geography/united-states" source: "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tim_Danielson" license: "CC BY-SA 4.0" wikipedia_page_id: 0 wikipedia_revision_id: 0
::summary American middle-distance runner ::
::data[format=table title="Infobox sportsperson"]
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| name | Timothy Ralph Danielson |
| textcolor | |
| full_name | Timothy Ralph Danielson |
| nationality | |
| birth_date | |
| birth_place | Chula Vista, California, USA |
| death_date | November 26, 2024 |
| death_place | La Mesa, California, USA |
| alma_mater | Brigham Young University |
| occupation | Former middle-distance runner |
| years_active | 1965–1971 |
| module | |
| country | |
| sport | Track and field |
| position | Middle-distance runner |
| event | Mile, Two-mile |
| collegeteam | Brigham Young University |
| retired | Yes |
| module2 | |
| pb | Mile: 3:59.4 (1966) |
| :: |
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Timothy Ralph Danielson (December 3, 1947 - November 26, 2024) was a former American middle-distance runner. He was one of only 21 U.S. high school athletes to ever run the mile in under four minutes. In 2014, he was convicted of the first-degree murder of his ex-wife.
High school
While running for Chula Vista High School in Chula Vista, California, Danielson became the second high school 4-minute miler when he ran a 3:59.4 mile at San Diego's Balboa Stadium on June 11, 1966. His mile time puts him sixth on the all-time high school miler list, behind Alan Webb's 3:53.43 (2001), Jim Ryun's 3:55.3 (1965), Drew Hunter's 3:58.25, Reed Brown's 3:59.3 (2017), Matthew Maton's 3:59.38 (2015), and Grant Fisher's 3:59.38 (2015), and was the fastest time ever run by a California high school student until Colin Sahlman from Newbury Park High School ran 3:58.81 in 2022.{{cite book | last = Shepard | first = Jack | title = High School Track 2009 | publisher = Jack Shepard | year = 2008}}
He won the mile race at the CIF California State Meet in 1965 with a time of 4:08.0 and again the next year with a time of 4:07.0.{{cite book | last = Casacky & Peck | first = Tom & Bill | title = The California State High School Track and Field Meet 1915-2006 | publisher = Interis and Tom Casacky | year = 2006}} He won the Golden West Invitational High School meet two-mile race in 1966 in a time of 8:55.4. He was Track and Field News "High School Athlete of the Year" in 1966.
College
After high school Danielson attended Brigham Young University, where he competed for the track team for a year but never managed to break four minutes for the mile again. He was in the race at the 1967 National Championships where Jim Ryun set the world record at 3:51.1. After running second for much of the race, he faded near the end, finishing 8th in just over 4 minutes. During that same race, Marty Liquori became the third high school 4 minute miler, a step ahead of him. Danielson's career direction changed. Ryun said "I lost track of Tim after that." He married Carolyn Mooers in February 1968, their first son was born in June, all distractions at the same time he was attempting to qualify for the 1968 Olympics. Before professionalism was allowed "In those days, if anyone married they were finished." said Liquori.
Personal
Danielson began working as an engineer for GKN Aerospace Engine Products in El Cajon, California in 1971. He married his third wife, Ming Qi in 2006; they divorced in 2008.
On June 16, 2011, Danielson was charged in the murder of Ming Qi. He pleaded not guilty. a drug known a history of these side effects, included in disclaimers attached to its advertising.
On May 12, 2014 Danielson was convicted of first-degree murder. On July 11, 2014, Danielson was sentenced to 50 years to life in prison.
He died on November 26, 2024 of cancer.Chula Vista / South Bay Old Timers Club Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/groups/367789966756998/posts/2514708535398453/
Brian Danielson's (son) Facebook post: https://www.facebook.com/brian.danielson.9674/posts/pfbid0MfbYf6GWRXNiPdhsrBqXBzbiiq2cLq5S846yjJvkDg3mCcp7FTLd4R4ZtmC8XihGl
References
References
- "Tim DANIELSON | Profile | World Athletics".
- Longman, Jeré. (2013-03-13). "After the Mile". The New York Times.
- Nguyen, Alexander. (2014-07-11). "Former Track Star Danielson Gets 50-to-Life for Killing Wife".
- "The Fearlessness of Extreme Youth: Jim Ryun, Tim Danielson, Marty Liquori".
- "Colin Sahlman Breaks 4, Becomes Third-Fastest in Mile Ever". MileSplit United States.
- [https://web.archive.org/web/20121025222405/http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/vault/article/magazine/MAG1078747/index.htm Sports Illustrated Faces in the Crowd: July 4th, 1966]
- "Track & Field News - the Bible of the Sport Since 1948".
- [http://www.dyestatcal.com/news/xc2003/12-December%202003/12Fab4Talk.htm Dyestat:Conversation with America's Sub-4 minute prep milers - Jim Ryun - Marty Liquori - Tim Danielson - Alan Webb] {{Webarchive. link. (2010-12-04)
- "Track and Field Statistics".
- (13 March 2013). "After the Mile". The New York Times.
- (June 13, 2011). "Lakeside murder suspect an engineer, ex-track star". [[The San Diego Union-Tribune]].
- Repard, Pauline. (June 16, 2011). "Name of woman slain in Lakeside released". [[The San Diego Union-Tribune]].
- Repard, Pauline. (June 16, 2011). "Lakeside man pleads not guilty in ex-wife's slaying". [[The San Diego Union-Tribune]].
- Wheeler, Kelly. (July 12, 2014). "Former track star Tim Danielson sentenced for killing ex-wife Ming Qi".
- (May 12, 2014). "Lakeside man guilty of murdering ex-wife".
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